2017 Singapore Grand Prix

A guide to the Marina Bay circuit from Daniil

Singapore Grand Prix is one of the jewels of the championship. This race is exceptional in many ways, not only because we're racing at night, but because of the character of the circuit and the unusual conditions. It goes without saying that this is one of the most physically demanding rounds in the calendar.

It's a very long circuit, which could be compared with Spa with some slow chicanes and close walls. The race lasts for almost two hours, and that's one of the reasons, why we train so hard for this Grand Prix. It's a tough challenge.

Key sections of the circuit

The track configuration is very interesting. The first turn after the start/finish straight provides one of the very few opportunities here for overtaking in the braking zone. It is followed by an interesting combination of turns, a short straight and turn 5, which takes you to the longest straight where we go full throttle. That's another place where you can try overtaking maneuvers with DRS. A hard braking follows the straight and then, a 90-degree turn. There are lots of them on this track, and they flow one into another.

A "Bridge" section is on the far side of the circuit, and it includes a very slow turn 13. You should brake hard before entering it and stay alert not to lock the wheels as here you need to brake and turn simultaneously. A mistake here can cost you lot of time. The third sector includes several chicanes, where you need to look after your tires, avoiding the wheel spin on the exits. It's up to the driver how hard to hit the curbs here: it very much depends on the ability of the car to handle the curbs and on the suspension settings.

The lap finishes with a double left-hand turn, where you need to hit the apex cleanly.

Approach to the car setup

Downforce level: almost the same as in Monaco but there are more straights here, and you need to use the curbs aggressively for a good lap time.

Suspension settings: in Singapore, it's important to avoid bottoming on the curbs, at the same time having the lowest possible ride height. So, it's all about a compromise. The suspension should be soft to manage the bumpy surface well.

Tire wear: quite low but you should be careful to avoid the wheel spin which can destroy the tires.